Morris Backs Measure Automatically Sealing Records for Certain Prior Offenses

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – This week, state Rep. Yolanda Morris, D-Chicago, helped lead the effort to pass the Clean Slate Act, an automatic record sealing approach for certain, previously incarcerated individuals.

“Returning citizens who have served their time should not continue to be punished once they are free, yet our complicated record sealing process often makes it difficult for them to have a fulfilling life,” Morris said. “This measure will make it easier for thousands of Illinoisans to obtain housing, get jobs and reduce their chances of returning to prison by automatically sealing records of certain non-violent offenses.”

Senate Bill 1784 transitions the sealing process for certain non-violent offenses from a petition- based process to an automatic one. It does not fully guarantee that a record will be sealed, but it starts the process for qualified cases. Law enforcement and prosecutors will still be able to access records, if necessary, in the future.

The Morris-backed measure received bipartisan support, and has returned to the Senate for concurrence.